Nothing packs strokes onto your score—and your golf handicap—faster than poor putting. So if you’re looking to cut strokes from your game, improve your putting. There are dozens of putting drills that can help. Below are five (with additional golf tips) that are proven exercises. They’re simple straightforward drills often used in golf lessons to refine a specific fundamental, like squaring the putterface at impact or rolling a putt at the right speed. Many are also pace-related.
Before practicing any of these drills, check your grip. It must feel comfortable when putting. Start by gripping the handle in your left palm (right palm, if you’re left-handed), and not in the fingers. The handle should go right under the fleshy part of your thumb. Then, add your right hand, also gripping the handle in your palm. Some players take their gloves off when they putt. Others wear them. Do what feels right to you.
Speed Drill
Speed may be the biggest factor in putting. If your ball isn’t rolling at the right speed, it won’t go in. Start by putting a club 1-½ feet beyond the hole. Now putt. Your goal, if you miss, is to roll the ball up to the shaft on the ground, without touching it. That leaves you an easily makeable comeback putt. Most experts would agree that a putt has the best chance of dropping when it would goes about a foot by the cup. We use this drill with students in our golf instruction sessions.
Gate Drill
Another critical putting factor is squaring the putterface at impact. Like speed, if your putter face isn’t square at impact, you’ll miss the putt. Place two tees in the ground a few inches apart. Now putt a ball through the “gates.” The only way the ball will go through the tees is if the putterface is square at impact. This is another drill popular in golf instruction sessions. If you’re doing it for the first time, place the tees about six inches apart. Narrow the tees as you gain consistency.
Backstroke Drill
New students in golf lessons tend to take big backstrokes. If that’s you, the backstroke drill will help you harness your motion. It’s a great drill for mid-range and short putts. Place a tee about 10 inches behind a ball and practice mid-range putts. This drill forces you to take the putterhead back only so far. Your goal is to maintain the same smooth tempo for all your putts, with no steering or decelerating. Of course, for a longer putt, use a longer stroke. Stick a tee in the ground outside your ball so you can monitor ball position. Leave room for the club to go through.
Three-Station Drill
Stick tees in the ground at three different spots on the green. Place them about three or four feet apart. Your last putt should be about 12 feet out. Now putt balls from each station. This drill is another speed drill. It’s also a great pre-round drill because you’ll be working on putts you’ll probably face during your round. You can also do this drill on downhill putts and uphill putts. If you want to put some pressure on yourself, putt five balls at each station. Stay at that station until you’ve sunk all five balls without a miss. Then, move on.
Green-Reading Drill
Green reading is probably the most underrated skill in putting. This drill improves that skill. Find a large practice green. Hit putts from different distances and with different curves. Before putting, read the putt from behind the ball, each side of the ball, and behind the hole. See which position gives you the best read. Take that skill to the course next time you play.
Whatever the distance you’re putting, once you decide on the line and the right speed, commit yourself fully to the putt. Some sports psychologists recommend that you take a full breath and then let it out. This, they say clears your mind and settles your body. They also say not to get upset if you miss a putt. It saps energy from your body, which you’ll need to finish the round.
Missing putts packs strokes on your golf handicap. If you want to see a dramatic drop in your golf handicap, improve your putting.